Missouri suggestions off in its closing recreation earlier than SEC play on Thursday, taking over No. 16 Illinois in St. Louis within the Braggin’ Rights recreation.
The Preventing Illini are much like the Tigers in a few methods, each in that that they had few gamers return from final 12 months’s roster and that they play an up-tempo, ball-pressuring model. Illinois has appeared like an Elite Eight-caliber workforce in some video games this 12 months, with wins over UCLA and Texas, each of whom have been ranked within the high 10 on the time. However the workforce’s additionally faltered in a couple of situations this season, with losses to No. 16 Virginia, No. 22 Maryland and unranked Penn State.
Mizzou misplaced final 12 months’s Braggin’ Rights recreation, 88-63. However the Tigers gained in every of the three years prior and likewise picked up victories every of the final 4 instances the Preventing Illini have been ranked. The workforce additionally has a greater understanding of what to anticipate in a rivalry matchup after taking part in within the Border Conflict two weeks in the past.
“We skilled Kansas, so we all know how it’s now,” senior guard DeAndre Gholston stated. “And we’re making an attempt to enter the sport tomorrow realizing that we are able to play with anyone within the nation and attempt to win this recreation.”
Missouri (10-1) vs. Illinois (8-3)
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: Enterprise Heart, St. Louis, Illinois
TV: SEC Community
SERIES: Illinois leads, 33-19
KENPOM PREDICTION: Illinois 82, Missouri 77
1. Don’t let Illinois leverage its measurement benefit. Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates stated at Wednesday’s press convention he desires to see his workforce proceed to do “the small issues” comparable to boxing out and avoiding fouls. That’ll be simpler stated than accomplished towards the Preventing Illini, who can have a top benefit at almost any place on the ground. The common Illinois participant stands 78.3 inches tall in response to KenPom, which ranks thirty second within the nation. Three of Illinois’ high 4 scorers embody 6-foot-9 sophomore Dain Dainja, 6-foot-9 senior Matthew Mayer and 6-foot-10 junior Coleman Hawkins — the workforce is connecting on 57.2% of its 2-pointers this 12 months. The Preventing Illini are additionally comparatively stable on the glass, snapping up 35.1% of accessible offensive rebounds and 26.7% of accessible defensive rebounds, and get to the foul line commonly, with a free throw price of 32.5%. The Tigers will have to be at their finest to make up for the scale distinction.
2. Maintain Terrence Shannon Jr. from getting scorching. The fifth-year senior who transferred from Texas Tech within the offseason is having a profession season, averaging private bests in almost each statistical class. Shannon is at his most harmful when his 3-point photographs are falling, although he’s a little bit of a streaky shooter, sinking 34.8% of his makes an attempt. He went 8-9 from past the arc within the workforce’s win towards UCLA however shot simply 1-5 in a loss to Virginia two days later. He’s hit 20% or decrease from distance in all three of the Preventing Illini’s losses. Holding Shannon out of rhythm will probably be Missouri’s greatest defensive task.
3. Win the turnover battle. Each Illinois and Mizzou rank within the high 40 within the nation in defensive turnover price, with every squad forcing its opponent to cough the ball up on not less than 23% of its possessions. However the Preventing Illini aren’t pretty much as good at taking good care of the ball themselves, turning it over 20.9% of the time — the Tigers, on the hand, achieve this on simply 17.1% of their possessions. With a recreation that’s certain to be performed at a frenetic tempo with two fast-paced groups, Mizzou possible can’t afford to give up additional alternatives to Illinois and might want to benefit from the quick break probabilities it earns.
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